Compound tool.



No. 890,150. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. W. L. MARBLE;

COMPOUND TOOL. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1907 Q/vi b1 eases ai wf 1n:mmms r-zrsns 50., wAsnmcmN, nv c WEBSTER L. MARBLE, OF GLADSTONE,MICHIGAN.

COMPOUND TOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Application filed September 16, 1907. Serial No. 393,090.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, /l' mssrnn L. MARBLE,- a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Gladstone, in the county of Delta and State ofMichigan, have invented new and useful 1mprovements in Compound Tools,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to compound tools, and its object is to provide aconvenient pocket tool carrying one or a plurality of implements, eachcapable of being quickly adjusted for use, or shut within a protectinghandle, as desired the entire instrument be ing simple in construction,and cheap to make. The implem ents may be screwdrivers, punches,nailsets, or'any other tool desired, and may be of different kinds, orall of one kind in different sizes, as may best suit the requirements ofthe user.

The handle comprises two parallel similar plates, one or both being ofresilient metal, such as steel, united by a central screw or rivet. Atone or both ends is a transverse pivot pin on which the implement orimplements can be pivoted, so as to be capable of shutting into thehandle or opening out for use. In the hub of each implement is a recess,preferably a transverse groove, with which cooperates a projection orrib on the handle, so that when the implement is in its open or closedpositions, the projection springs into the recess and holds theimplement yieldingly against movement in either direction. In order tolock it positively and prevent it from accidentally closing or opening,a locking device is provided: preferably a slide which enters beneaththe head of the pivot pin and thus prevents the resilient side plates ofthe handle from separating which they must do to permit the projectionto lift out of the recess in the act of opening or closing theimplement.

In the accompanying drawing :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a compoundtool embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same. Fig.3.is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of animplement.

The tool which I have chosen to illustrate contains four implements-allscrewdrivers, of different sizes, 1, 2, 3, 4. They are pivoted in pairsat the ends of a handle, composed of side plates 5, 6 of resilientmetal, such as steel. These plates are properly spaced apart by a spaceblock 7, and are united by a passing through said screw 8, preferably ofthe length block at a point about midway of the handle.

At each end of the handle is a transverse pivot pin 9, 10, fixed in oneplate and passing freely through a hole in the other plate. In thedrawing, the two pins are shown as fixed respectively in the two plates,but it is evident that they might both be fixed in the same plate, ifdesired. On these pins the implements are pivoted, two on each pin, sideby side. The hub of each implement has a pivot hole 11 for the pin, anda pair of grooves l2, l3 crossing said hole at right angles. The sideplates of the handle have internal ribs 14 intersecting the axes of thepivot pins. The construction is such that the plates constantly clampthe hubs of the implements with a yielding pressure, which forces theribs into the grooves when they register. The grooves are so locatedthat the implements will be retained in their open or closed positionsby the interlocking of the ribs with the transverse grooves 12; whilethey will be held in a position at right angles with the handle when theribs interlock the longitudinal grooves 13.

The act of changing an implement from one position to another causes theside plates of the handle to separate, in order to permit the rib orother projection to ride up out of the groove or other recess. It is,however, highly desirable to prevent the implement from turning when inuse, since otherwise it might shut accidentally and wound the -lingersof the operator, or injure the work or the tool itself. I provide,therefore, at each end of the handle, a locking device to hold the toolrigidly in any position in which it may be retained by the interlockingof the rib and a groove. This locking device is preferably some meansfor preventing the separation of the side plates and the consequentdisengagement of the rib and groove. I prefer to effect this byextending the free end of each pivot pin beyond the surface of the sideplate through which it passes, and to provide it with a head 15 underwhich a locking plate 16 can be thrust. This plate is preferably a flatstrip of metal having a slot 17 through which passes a rivet 18 by meansof which. the strip is secured to the side plate, and by which it isguided in its movements. The locking plate shown operates as a slidingbolt. At one end of the slide is preferably a thumb piece 19, and itsother end is slotted or forked at 20 to pass on each side of the pivotpin underthe head 15.. In this position the slide fills the spacebetween the head and the plate, and thus effectually prevents the sideplates from separating. It can be easily slid to and fro by the thumb ofthe hand that is grasping the tool, leaving the operators other handfree to hold the work or perform other duties.

or convenience in opening the implements, each one has a projecting heel21, and these are preferably curved in opposite directions to facilitatetheir manipulation. When one implement is in use, the two at the op 0-site end of the tool may be set at right ang es to the handle, as shownin Fig. l, to serve as a cross handle and aiford a better grasp or givegreater torsion.

The parts may be stamped out of sheet steel, the grooves and ribs beingformed at the same time. This conduces to cheapness of cost, andsimplicity and durability of construction.

Having thus described my invention, what 2 I claim is A compound toolcomprising a handle consisting of two resilient side lates, a spaceblock between them at the micl dle, pivot pins each fixed near one endof one plate and eX- 3 tending through the other and provided with ahead, two or more implements pivoted on each pin and provided with heelsextending beyond the handle and curved toward opposite sides thereof,interlocking ribs and 3 grooves on the lates and im lements, forkedslides on the p ates adapte to engage with the heads on the pins, andprovided with longitudinal slots, and rivets fixed in said side platesand engaging with said slots. 4

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WEBSTER L. MARBLE.

Witnesses:

JAMES JoNEs, CLAUDE HAWKINS.

